american journalists

At first glance, this would appear to be a huge step towards peace with the troubled nation.

But it’s simply a reopening of the border so the North can make some money from the South.

Still, a positive step and one worth noting.

Two American journalists, who were held by North Korea, have returned to the U.S. Laura Ling and Euna Lee had been sentenced to 12 years hard labor for illegally entering the country.

Former President Bill Clinton secured their release in Pyongyang after meeting with North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday.

Former President Bill Clinton has arrived in North Korea to try to win the freedom of two American journalists.

Washington has been pushing for amnesty for Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were sentenced to 12 years hard labor after being arrested on the Chinese-North Korean border in March.

They were charged with entering the country illegally, and engaging in "hostile acts."

Victor Cha is a professor at Georgetown University and Korea Chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He talks with Steve Inskeep about what North Korea's leader hopes to gain from holding two American journalists and conducting nuclear tests.

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The families of two American journalists sentenced to 12 years in a North Korea labor camp have appealed for leniency.

The journalists' plight and North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests have alarmed foreign governments.

But South Korea — the country that potentially has the most to lose from the tensions — is deeply divided about what to do about it.